USPS goes postal with R2D2 mailboxes

Who knew the United States Postal Service could feel the Force? In honor of Star Wars' 30th anniversary, these kick-ass R2D2-wrapped mailboxes will be replacing the old boring ones in post offices across the nation. Star Wars lovers / haters can say whatever they like -- we're just glad this has nothing to do with Jar Jar Binks.

[Via Boing Boing]

[humpty @ Mar 9th 2007 8:31PM]

How long will these last before they are stolen?

[SmilingAssassin @ Mar 9th 2007 8:36PM]

COOL!

[The Infamous @ Mar 9th 2007 8:38PM]

thats gotta be expensive to implement

[..... @ Mar 9th 2007 8:41PM]

nice.

[Michael W Taylor @ Mar 9th 2007 8:46PM]

Prediction: Some bozo will steal one and end up in prison for 15 years for stealing Federal property.

[Sandeep @ Mar 9th 2007 8:54PM]

so this is why they're raising postage rates...

empire conspiracy!

[Andres @ Mar 9th 2007 9:04PM]

I'm so gonna steal one of these

[paloooz @ Mar 9th 2007 9:06PM]

I'd be okay with some Jar Jar Binks themed items. Speed bumps, toilet paper, etc.

[Andrew Fong @ Mar 9th 2007 9:06PM]

And this is where your tax dollars go to ...

[Sam @ Mar 10th 2007 12:16AM]

Actually, tax dollars don't go to the postal system. It's funded by postage.

[Andrew Fong @ Mar 10th 2007 12:21AM]

No, the postal system is partially funded by tax dollars. Skip down to the postal section at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2007/other.html

[LTM @ Mar 9th 2007 9:08PM]

oh great, another whopping great kickback for George Lucas!

[Tull @ Mar 9th 2007 9:10PM]

Definitely adding one of those to my stolen state property collection.
One of my current favorite is my "Raping Place" street sign, just had to knock the pole down first.

[tyler @ Mar 9th 2007 9:11PM]

why don't they just put decals on mailboxes already in place?

[SideSwipe @ Mar 9th 2007 9:30PM]

I wonder what they'll go for on eBay... ;)

[dafish @ Mar 9th 2007 9:41PM]

This is just shameful. Postal Mgmt won't hire enough employees
to get mail delivered before dark in many parts of the country, but
will spend money on Star War Collection Boxes. Believe me, I've
been a carrier for 25 years and see this kind of waste all the time.

[Pie. @ Mar 9th 2007 9:48PM]

They kind of look like decals or something to put onto existing boxes to me.

[o0adam0o @ Mar 9th 2007 9:48PM]

I can already see these being stolen by some jawas for spare parts.

[Alex @ Mar 9th 2007 9:49PM]

Guys, do you honestly think that USPS is paying to have these put on boxes? It seems painfully obvious to me that LucasFilm is paying for the boxes and then some, otherwise why would they do it?

[Simon @ Mar 9th 2007 9:50PM]

I don't even want to think about what the Boston police will manage to do to these.

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Mar 9th 2007 9:58PM]

Oh, come on... who really thinks USPS ispaying for the deco on these boxes? I would almost guarantee the USPS didn't pay for that - Lucasfilm or 20th Century Fox did. It's great advertising and it's easily painted over when the time comes to get rid of the campaign.

Everyone needs to lighten up about the small stuff (like ad campaigns) and look at the big stuff - like why administration after administration continues to underfund the USPS, causing us to have to pay more in postage (though, to be fair, we pay a lot less in postage than other countries pay).

[wayan @ Mar 9th 2007 9:59PM]

Um can I have one now please. $100 and no questions asked.

[Matthew @ Mar 9th 2007 10:06PM]

I can see the headlines now, "star wars mailboxes go missing nationally" and "star wars collectors indicted for postal theft". LOL

[Jelp @ Mar 9th 2007 10:07PM]

Well I just realized they said "in post offices" so I would imagine they would be safer there and stand little chance (I didn't say NO chance) to be stolen.

[paul34 @ Mar 9th 2007 10:33PM]

Waste of taxpayers' money... is strong with this one...

[Jelp @ Mar 9th 2007 10:39PM]

> humpty @ Mar 9th 2007 8:31PM
> How long will these last before they are stolen?

EXACTLY my feeling that came right away!! Not that I would steal them, -I live in Europe- but I know mankind too well :-(

[Graham @ Mar 9th 2007 10:44PM]

Is it just me, or does uspsjedimaster.com not work?

[Dark Morford @ Mar 9th 2007 10:46PM]

I, for one, welcome our new mail-handling droid overlords.

[native @ Mar 9th 2007 10:52PM]

Haha, how ironic. Sci-fi future mixed with a dying communication medium. When was the last time most of you mailed a letter? What next, Klingon paperboys? Also, I've never seen these mailboxes INSIDE a post office. These are sidewalk mailboxes. And I too doubt the USPS is paying to print the stickers up.

[paul34 @ Mar 9th 2007 11:07PM]

well to be fair, I do use the mail almost everyday...

to send/receive Netflix movies! ha

[Jake @ Mar 10th 2007 12:03AM]

No doubt most of these will end up being used as glorified trash cans in SW fans' homes around the US/World. Wonder when we'll see the first daring vandals trying to sell them on eBay?

[Oboy @ Mar 10th 2007 12:21AM]

I think it's a Scam. Each of these has an eye and an ear, and they'll be watching. It's the next implementation of "1985". Big Brother is watching.

[JRM @ Mar 10th 2007 3:54AM]

so...any guesses on the next government institution to go commercial?

DMVs sponsored by Toyota?
Fertility clinics sponsored by Viagra?

[chb @ Mar 10th 2007 10:30AM]

No wonder the price of stamps keeps going up. We need to install more neighborhood drop boxes like we used to have, not spend the money on NASA spinoffs.

[Mark Gilbert @ Mar 10th 2007 11:51AM]

Lucas is probably paying for some if not most of the cost. Its marketing. I don't think the US Postal service could justify doing this on their own dime.

[Rob @ Mar 10th 2007 2:45PM]

Totally awesome

[UIGuy @ Mar 10th 2007 7:52PM]

Help me Obi-Wan Zipcodi, you're my only hope...

[S.A. @ Mar 11th 2007 7:37AM]

They're increasing the price of stamps to pay for these? That is BS.

[danj3ris @ Mar 12th 2007 8:24AM]

This is stupid. I've been a mail carrier for 6 months. I knew from my 2nd week what was wrong with the United States Postal Service. But I guess as long as they put on a happy face and pull ridiculous stunts like this, no one cares what happens behind the scenes.

And you wonder why that package takes so long to get to you.

[Nancy W. @ Mar 17th 2007 12:19AM]

Six months? Wow, you must know everything there is to know about the Postal Service by now! These are decals, bozo. They aren't even new mail boxes. I'm a letter carrier, too (for a whole lot longer than you), but at least I have some sense - and a sense of humor.

[Harlo @ Mar 12th 2007 10:20AM]

As long as they don't randomly sport never before seen rockets out of the legs and fly away I think we'll be fine.

[Tulio @ Mar 13th 2007 9:14AM]

I agree with one of the posters. Lucas is probably shelling some cash out and they are also going to come out with some 30th Anniversary Stamps.
How many people with buy the stamps and never mail them?

The mail boxes will probably be available for sale in the future once the promotion is over. They will also probably be posted where there is lots of foot traffic, not alley ways.

Plus some mailboxes are so old, they need to be updated.

[niemrg @ Mar 13th 2007 10:23PM]

"...And this is where your tax dollars go to..."

"...like why administration after administration continues to underfund the USPS, causing us to have to pay more in postage..."

Actually, people... not a single penny from your tax dollars goes to the usps. True, it's a part of the federal government, but it's finances are completely separate from the government's. The reason stamp prices keep going up is because of rising fuel costs, and the ridiculous hourly rates that postal workers earn. (my mother is a window clerk and makes about 24 dollars an hour)

AND, to all of you stamp price complainers, the usps is releasing "forever stamps" which can be purchased in limited quantities but can be used forever, even after rate changes.

[Nancy W. @ Mar 16th 2007 11:47PM]

These are AWESOME! And for those of you who are getting your boxers in a twist over Postal Service waste - I am a postal worker and I do city collections. These are NOT brand new mail boxes. They are the same boxes that we have always used and applying the R2D2 decal to them was probably cheaper than applying a coat of baked enamel, so chill out and enjoy the laugh!

[Susan @ Mar 16th 2007 11:59PM]

These are so cute. I saw one on my route today (I am a letter carrier). I don't believe they could have cost the US. Postal Service that much (if anything). They are just decals, and there are only 320 of them in the entire country. As for people who want to steal one, best of luck - a mail box weighs about 500 pounds, and if it's got mail in it, well, Darth Vader himself couldn't get you out of that much trouble!

[Grrrace @ Jul 25th 2007 9:44AM]

i wish d mailmen would dress up lyk Qui-Gon Jinn or even JarJar n Chewbacca

[wayan @ Oct 4th 2007 12:57PM]

I found one in DC and made an entire Flickr set of them:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcmetroblogger/sets/72157600008959541/

Check out the security bolts holding the boxes down, the droid upskirt, and a USPS mailman opening one up.